KUALA LUMPUR: Ranhill Holdings Bhd’s subsidiary SAJ Sdn Bhd and Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) have entered into an agreement to implement joint billing for water supply and sewerage services in Johor.

This follows the memorandum of understanding previously signed by the two parties.

With integrated billing, consumers will receive one joint bill issued by SAJ, combining charges for both water supply and sewerage services.

Ranhill will be a one-stop centre for all billing related matters, while respective operational matters will be routed to the former and and IWK.

“As the sole licensed water operator for the Johor, SAJ is committed to adopting a holistic approach in water management and we are now very pleased to expand this service to joint billing together with IWK,” Ranhill group president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamdan Mohamad said in a statement today.

“Already practiced in many developed countries, this is a breakthrough step towards achieving integrated water services and incorporating a green billing element for the state.”

Hamdan added the move was also in line with the aspirations of the government and the Water Services Industry Act 2006 to achieve a sustainable and integrated water and sewerage industry.

“Our ‘source-to-tap’ concept entails the complete cycle of water services, from the sourcing and treatment of raw water to supplying potable water to consumers, as well as bill collection,” he said.

IWK chief executive officer Faizal Othman said it had provided sewerage services in Johor since 1995 and saw the initiative as an extension of its commitment to provide the highest level of service.

“It is a natural progression to take this streamlined approach and provide one single bill. Not only is this expected to improve efficiencies, it is also beneficial for customers, facilitating ease of payment by providing a single point of contact,” he added.

IWK aims to implement joint billing with other state operators as well as part of restructuring the water supply and sewerage services nationwide.”

“At the same time, customers can rest assured as SAJ and IWK shall work closely together, providing the necessary expertise to handle all operational matters to ensure continued quality of service,” he added.